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Germany's anti-Islam rallies met with larger protests

BERLIN, Germany – Even as Islamophobic sentiment spiked across Europe following last week's attacks in Paris, thousands marched in Germany in anti-Islam protests Monday night, and were met by even as bigger

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In Berlin, young Muslim women wearing head scarves and holding Turkish flags walk past the Brandenburg Gate after a vigil organized by Muslim groups to commemorate the victims of the recent terror attacks in Paris. Muslim associations have been outspoken in condemning the recent terror sprees in Paris by Islamic extremists. Sean Gallup, Getty Images

Germany is home to 4 million Muslims and many mosques, and Muslim associations have condemned the recent terror sprees in Paris by Islamic extremists that left 17 people dead, including 10 employees at the satirical "Charlie Hebdo" newspaper. Sean Gallup, Getty Images

From left, German President Joachim Gauck, German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller and French Ambassador Philippe Etienne watch as the chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, Aiman Mazyek, places a wreath during a vigil organized by the German Muslim Council to commemorate the victims of the Paris terror attacks in front of the Brandenburg Gate near the French Embassy in Berlin. Pool photo by John MacDougall

People hold candles with "Je suis Charlie" written on them as they attend a vigil organized by Muslim groups at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to commemorate the victims of the recent terror attacks in Paris. Sean Gallup, Getty Images

From left, former German president Christian Wulff; president of the Bundestag, Norbert Lammer; German President Joachim Gauck; chairman of the Central Committee of Muslims in Germany, Aiman Mazyek; Chancellor Angela Merkel; Minister of Economic Affairs Sigmar Gabirel; and the chairman of the Turkish Community in Berlin, Bekir Yilmaz, attend a vigil for the victims of the attacks in France at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Maurizio Gambarini, epa

Fellow protesters record the scene as police detain a counterdemonstrator against the rally of the group Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West, or PEGIDA, in Dresden, Germany. Jens Meyer, AP

A protester with PEGIDA displays a poster of German Chancellor Angela Merkel wearing a head scarf in front of the Reichtstag building in Dresden. The words on the poster reads, "Mrs. Merkel here is the people." Jens Meyer, AP

Supporters of the PEGIDA movement demonstrate their solidarity with the victims of the recent Paris terror attacks in Dresden. PEGIDA is an acronym for Patriotische Europaeer Gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes, which translates to Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamification of the West. Sean Gallup, Getty Images

People protest against the anti-Islamic demonstrations in L:epzig. The signs read, "Refugees Welcome - One World! One Love!" and "Your march is just a silent cry for love... hug life - #NOPEGIDA #NOLEGIDA #NOHATE." Olliver Killig, European Pressphoto Agency

Members of the anti-Islamic LEGIDA group, Leipzig Against the Islamization of the West, carry a banner that reads "For homeland, peace, and German literary guiding culture, against religious fanaticism, against Islamization and multiculturalism" in Leipzig. Peter Endig, European Pressphoto Agency

BERLIN — Thousands marched in anti-Islam protests Monday night across Germany and were met by even bigger crowds opposing them.

Monday's weekly rally by the group called Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West, PEGIDA, grew to more than 25,000 people in Dresden and other cities to protest the country's immigration policy, according to police. The group's supporters were asked to wear black ribbons to honor the 17 victims of last week's terror attacks in Paris.

But PEGIDA marchers were outnumbered by more than 80,000 counterdemonstrators across the country, according to police estimates. There were 30,000 in Leipzig in the east and 20,000 in Munich to the south.

"We are here to mourn what happened in Paris and protest against the Islamization of Germany," said Vicky, who like most PEGIDA supporters declined to give her last name for personal security reasons. "Multiculturalism is great, but that requires cultures accept each other — Islam only accepts itself."

In Berlin, where the PEGIDA movement is small, about 4,000 people braved the rain and cold to block PEGIDA from marching and to show solidarity with Germany's Muslim community. People chanted, "Never again, never again, Germany" and "Say it loud, say it clear: Refugees are welcome here."

"We are here, because they (PEGIDA) are here," said Selma Heisenberg, 17. "It is important to show that the majority of Germans aren't like PEGIDA."

What started as a small protest in the eastern German city of Dresden late last year has come to international attention and gained tens of thousands of followers, participating in weekly protests on Mondays.

After last week's attacks in Paris at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and at a kosher supermarket, resistance to PEGIDA has grown faster than the group's followers. About 400,000 signed an anti-PEGIDA online petition. German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke again Monday against the group, while her Cabinet ministers and allies appealed for the group to cancel the marches.

"Islam belongs to Germany," Merkel said.

PEGIDA said on Facebook that the group stands for "a reasonable immigration law" and has nothing against Muslims who live in Germany and have "integrated."

The anti-Islamic movement in Germany masks a discontent in society that has nothing to do with the Muslims, particularly in former East Germany where unemployment is high and there are few foreigners, said Carsten Koschmieder, a political scientist at Berlin's Free University.

"People are afraid of losing their jobs and money and that their pension won't last," Koschmieder said. "But they are not protesting about capitalism because they are poor. Instead, they are looking for an easy answer and blaming foreigners. It's an irrational fear."

David Russler, 28, attending the anti-PEGIDA demonstration in Berlin, was almost drowned out by catcalls and booing against PEGIDA members.